David Cameron political cartoon

NHS versus City bonuses. The bonuses which are effectively paid for by the tax payers, while essential services are cut created for Tribune Magazine.

The Prime Minister assured voters before the last election that if elected there would be no top down re-organisation of the NHS. However since 2010 there have been deeply profound top down reforms to the system with critics accusing the PM of privatising the NHS by stealth.

The government's argument is that in times austerity there have to be cuts made to all services that the private sector should me more involved in healthcare provision, stating, somewhat controversially that they can make the NHS more efficient. This coming on back of the report stating that the NHS is ranked first among developed nations healthcare systems in almost all categories and the USA system, which is almost entirely private sector run, ranks lowest.

This is set against the background of the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of ever-spiralling city bonuses. And when some of the banks that are paying such huge rewards, are largely in public ownership it is the taxpayer who foots the bill.